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Dell OptiPlex 960 and Imaging with Linux

taszerl's picture

Just a quick FYI for people imaging the new Dell OptiPlex 960 desktops.

When using DS 6.9 the only drive setting that will work with the Linux kernel is Raid On. for some reason Linux will not see the hard drive other wise.

In my environment I have to set it to Raid On then when the image has been laid down I have to go back in and set it to Raid ATA or Legacy so XP will not BSOD.

For other great articles about using Linux to image check out thedude05 articles

haim96's picture

are you sure?

because when you set the SATA to legacy it should act as IDE drive. so i wonder why linux kernel can't recognize the disk... i guess you have SATA on these machines.

TheDude05's picture

The 960's are full SATA. If

The 960's are full SATA. If in legacy mode, 'lspci' returns this about the device:

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation: Unknown device 3a00 (rev 02)

And in "Raid On" mode:

00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 82801 SATA RAID Controller (rev 02)

I also have "Raid Autodetect / ATA" and "Raid Autodetect / AHCI" working but it requires a lot of modification. (IE, It needs a newer kernel) I may make an article out of it when I've ironed out all of the bugs.

nsray's picture

Any status?

I am trying to tackle deploying to a Dell 960 Optiplex using the Linux environment.

I've built a toolchain to compile drivers against 2.6.18.8 but I can't find any source code for the 8086:3A06 or 8086:3A00 (Intel ICH10) which is what the 960 uses.

Do you still plan to write an article about this or would mind at least messaging me some tips on setting up a build environment?

I have a linux box up to compile drivers against just need some pointers on which kernel tree to use and ata driver source to use.

Thanks!

nsray's picture

update

I've compiled my own ata_piix with support for ICH10 for kernel 2.6.18.8 which lets you deploy an image to the Dell Optiplex 960 using the RAID Autodetect/ATA mode from BIOS.

If anyone needs it send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the .ko

TheDude05's picture

I'd eventually like to...

I'd eventually like to... I've just been waist deep in projects as of late.

If you still need some help setting up your build environment you read the article I posted below and then send me a PM. I wrote that article with compiling user space applications in mind and not for the kernel. Its not much different but there are some little changes.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/community/article/...

EDIT: And I just noticed that you posted a working driver. :p

VictorSherony's picture

I've been trying to image

I've been trying to image these machines and have the same issues, can only image on "Raid On" and can only boot on "Raid Auto/ATA" or "Legacy". If anyone has a fix for this it would be greatly appreciated.

viddect's picture

driver for new achi in linux automation

please see this article that has an ahci.ko that will work with these machines.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/community/download...

Linux Man
Viddect